Babe Ruth, as we know, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, but he was also known as a fascinating figure regarding matters of the heart.
Throughout his life, he was married twice to Helen Woodford and Claire Merritt Hodgson Ruth, and each marriage left a significant imprint on his personal and professional journey.
Babe Ruth’s first marriage was to Helen Woodford, whom he married in 1914; they had met each other as teenagers in Baltimore and had fallen in love. The couple adopted Dorothy Ruth, Babe Ruth’s biological child, from his mistress Juanita Jennings. However, their relationship eventually became complicated, and Helen separated from her husband in 1925.
Sadly, in 1929, Helen tragically died in a house fire at the residence of dentist Edward Kinder, where she had been residing.
However, Babe Ruth’s second marriage to Claire Merritt Hodgson, commonly known as Claire Merritt Ruth, would become his life's most significant and enduring relationship.
Who was Claire Merritt Ruth?
Claire Merritt Ruth was Babe Ruth’s second wife. She was born on September 11, 1900, and was a native of Athens, Georgia, United States.
Before marrying Ruth, she married Frank Hodgson and had a daughter named Julia. Frank died on February 16, 1921, and on April 17, Clarie tied the knot to Babe Ruth.
Claire was a pillar of support for Babe Ruth and helped him mend his issues through love and care. They decided not to have children, and Claire remained by Ruth’s side until his death on August 16, 1948.
After Ruth’s departure, Clarie extensively dedicated her time to keeping Ruth’s legacy and has dedicated a monument to Yankee Stadium and a field in the Bronx in Ruth’s name. She accepted the American Legion’s Distinguished Service medal for her husband in 1949 and helped organize the Babe Ruth Leagues, now known as Babe Ruth Baseball International, as per nytimes.com.
Claire Merritt Ruth was 79 when she passed away on October 25, 1976.
Based on our research, Claire Merritt Ruth has kept her parents and net worth information private. There is also no publicly available information about her height.
FAQs
A Babe Ruth was married twice. His first wife was Helen Woodford, from 1914 to 1929. His second wife was Claire Merritt Ruth, from 1929 to 1948.
A. Babe Ruth's full name is George Herman Ruth Jr.
A. Babe Ruth started his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but he made his name in history as an outfielder with the New York Yankees.
A. Babe Ruth has won seven World Series championships throughout his career.
